Speak Softly
Hope's Life

1935: Ardeth Bay is resurrected from the dead. He awakens to a world vastly different, to familiar faces changing and to the knowledge that he is Egypt's final hope for freedom.

He also finds out just how far love and despair can take him.

~~~~~~~

Awakening slowly for unknown reasons, the first thing Evy became aware of was her hair being pet. Opening her eyes, she turned and froze upon seeing Imhotep in the rich, dim candlelight. She had learned the first thing to do in this situation was to look at his eyes. See what sort of mood he was in. He looked oddly soft, a mood he didn't wear often, but one she was grateful for. "Are you angry with me?" she asked out of sheer need to get whatever would happen started so it would stop.

He shook his head and continued touching her hair. "No, Nefertiri. My anger has subsided—fortunately for you." He paused in reflection. The pharaoh laid back against the sea of maroon and gold pillows and inhaled deeply. "We were not always enemies, you and I."

This was definitely one of his stranger moods and she realized it was because of what she had said earlier. Between the lines she had made a comparison between he and Seti and it must have gotten him to stop and think about his actions. "Tell me about it?" she tested, watching him gaze at the canopy above them. "Tell me about who you were before…the change."

Imhotep's eyes flashed when she said that, but he didn't become hostile. Instead he sat up on his elbow and gazed down at her. Those ringed fingers found her hair again. "There was a time when you looked to me for guidance, Princess. When you trusted me as your teacher of our religion and worldly knowledge. There were many things I would have taught you still, had life stayed the same." He moved his hand to her face. "You have grown well."

At that Evy felt distinctly uncomfortable, being referred to as a princess she knew and yet didn't. Imhotep caught onto that and continued talking softly. "You think because you lack the memories of an age past that you are not she, but I knew her and I know you. You bear the same strengths, the same weaknesses. It's makes me…" He stopped and let his eyes travel over her.

Evy curled against her warm blanket in defeat. "Did you care for her at all?" she asked him, keeping Nefertiri separate from herself. "I remember a few things because of your spell. She feared you as she grew older. She saw the way you would look at her sometimes." A flash of that ancient suspicion—now confirmed, made Evelyn shiver.

Knitting his brows, Imhotep frowned. He obviously hadn't known what an effect he'd had on the young princess as her growing brought her to womanhood. "I cared for her. I would never have harmed her, though my thoughts were upon her beauty sometimes. But I was younger then, and foolish."

Sometimes those memories seemed real and Evy would find herself seeing through Nefertiri's eyes. Though he had never touched her in an untoward fashion, Evy could recall little images very vividly. He hadn't always guarded what his dark eyes sought after during their lessons, traveling her over as he taught her to read the ancient texts of their gods, his hands lingering on her when he prayed and blessed her. It had frightened Nefertiri when she grew old enough to understand what he was restraining, but he had never taken the next step, never tried to seduce his young pupil. No, those things had never happened, but her fears of it didn't prove groundless. "And now? Now you feel you may hurt her?"

His eyes hardened at that, but his voice remained low and steady. "She cursed me in her brother's absence. She could have let me die for the justice of what I did, but she cursed me forever. And she took away my heart's desire, as did you. I caused a debt to her by murdering her father, for which I have paid 3,000 years and more yet to come. Seti may know rest or reincarnate where he will, but my soul will never be unbound to this earth. For that I demand repayment. You have prevented my love for Ancksunamun, therefore you will replace it." She had crossed the line and resurfaced his ancient anger. Now he would act on it.

But instead of taking her into his arms, Imhotep sat up and touched her hair. Those eyes flit back and forth over her face, searing the details and committing them to a mental catalogue of all his other precious possessions. His voice became sensual and tempting. "It need not be a terrible price, Nefertiri. You need not be a whore to me, but a queen."

Evy's eyes widened at that and her heart balked. His queen? Why on earth would he care to elevate her to that title? And more to the point, why on earth would he think she would want to marry him? "No," she heard herself say before her mind fully thought through what might happen if she refused. The coolness of the room seemed to intensify under that gaze.

Imhotep's gaze was not angry, but she could see firmness there, amidst the desire. "You hesitate. Because of your lover? My price will be met. Your Med-Jai lover is dead and I offer you another chance at happiness. You will be exalted among women." He lifted her chin and moved closer.

"Happiness?" she hissed, sitting up and throwing her blanket off. "Happiness? Imhotep, you don't love me and though I know it may well get me killed, I'll be honest with you. I do not love you either! Your offer can't erase two years of…" She couldn't go on. Your Med-Jai lover is dead. Her heart screamed that phrase again. Her friend…her lover? And now he offered this to her after killing Ardeth? No, Ardeth couldn't be dead. The fury started building in her. "If you wanted me to change dresses all you had to do was throw one at me and command it! It's not like I could have refused!"

The king-priest remained calm despite her outburst. He watched her fume for a few minutes, then made a decision. Without warning he pressed her to the dais and was over her, pinning her back and forcing her lips to open to his. "Is this what you want, Princess?" he demanded of her, smoothing a hot hand down her thigh. "Is this how you want me to treat you?" She shook her head and shivered as his fingers moved to the clasp on her skirt.

The door opened suddenly and someone entered, then stopped and dropped keys. Imhotep turned around with a glare and she heard her brother stammer, "S-sorry. I'm sorry, Pharaoh. I…I only came t-to check on my sister. I'll…I'll leave now." There was a shuffling of feet and then the door closed, locking her in once again with the priest.

Imhotep turned his scowl back onto her, but it faded quickly. His eyes traveled her over as he breathed, "I only wish to make this easier between us. Ancksunamun was not worthy of this treatment by your father and you are not of me, but my price will be met one way or another. We do not love each other as we did others who are gone, but that does not mean we must be enemies." He got off her and stalked towards the door. "Walk by my side as you should and leave this life behind you. There is much you can teach me and I would learn if you would allow it. Think of what I will give you, for it will be more than a change of dress."

Evy sat up, her heart pounding and her face hot with fear. "Imhotep," she called and he stopped, but did not turned to face her. "Jonathan didn't know. I let him take the key. You won't hurt him, will you?"

There was a momentary pause before he replied, "A queen need not fear such from me. A slave may only pray for my mercy." And then he left her with a slam of the door.

Laying back down against the dais, Evy stared at the canopy as her mind reeled. Why was he doing this to her? She found another round of tears forming in her eyes. She could expect these things from him, but it didn't make it any easier. He was a man of two minds; a cold, hard king that wanted everyone to pay for his pain and yet there was another side that surfaced from time to time. It was that other side that kept her mind in confusion and tore at her. Sometimes he could conceive of exactly what he had become, she could tell, and that startling realization would dawn in his expression that he was everything he had hated about Seti.

But Imhotep was a prideful man, a man who felt passionately and needed to, and who was torn between taking what he wanted from a world that gave him hell and being the young priest Ancksunamun had fallen in love with. He seemed unable to control his darkness despite that small desire inside. Evy felt sick.

Nefertiri could remember her friendship to him and her heart went out to him in his path of destruction. But even the ancient princess Evy had been had known there was a root of darkness in him. Back then he had been strong enough to fight it, but after Ancksunamun that willpower failed. She didn't know if he were reachable or not anymore and a part of her didn't care. She just wanted him dead.

"Ardeth," she breathed, reminding herself of her own loss. Ardeth and his people and the world. But if he were dead then truly all hope was gone with him.

~~~~~~~

Rick stared ahead at the wall while Mayadeh, a perfectly beautiful woman, rubbed his shoulders, but no matter how much he wanted it to relax him, it never seemed to work on his tense muscles. At least everything was quiet here. "Do you think I'm leading you guys off course?" he asked softly, glancing around at the sparse, colorless room. The news he had just gotten was bad. Good, but bad.

Kneading his tough muscles, the young girl sighed and whispered into his ear, "Do not listen to my brother. He is a fool. He thinks all should be like him." She exhaled and worked at a tough knot. "What news have you heard? Ahamad would not let me read the telegram."

Rubbing his temples as if it could ease his headache, Rick groaned and stretched in his chair. He wasn't quite sure whether to feel exhausted or excited. His friend was awake, but a big task lay between them. One he wasn't sure he could take care of. Where were his cigarettes? He gave up on them after a fruitless sweep of the room. "Evy escaped from the palace a few nights ago."

Mayadeh gasped in surprise. Escape from there was next to impossible, which he concluded must be why she had succeeded. It wasn't expected. "She must be very brave."

"The bravest," Rick breathed in response. He took her hands away from his shoulders and looked into the mirror across from them into her dark eyes, uncertain about whether or not he would carry these things alone. He could have begged her for help, but would never ask these things of them. "Let's just say she found a friend of ours and was going to bring him out here, but they were captured by Imhotep shortly after. Those I sent after Jonathan sent word telling me that Evy got herself a little beating from King Imhotep and they think my friend was taken into a dungeon below in secret." He had to get him out. There was no other option but that.

The floor nearby creaked and they both looked over to see Ahamad enter. He leaned against the doorframe and watched in mild interest. "And let me guess. You wish us to waste more of our people on getting them out?"

Mayadeh glared at her brother and crossed her tanned arms. "You speak shamefully, brother," she told him point blank. She and her brother rarely agreed on anything, especially where Rick was concerned. "You should hear him out before making judgments."

Ahamad kicked a worn chair away from a nearby table and sat down with a stern expression. "There's a war out there, woman. Do not let your friendship with this outsider cloud your eyes." At her continued glare he rubbed at his shoulder and inhaled in concession. "O'Connell, you know I don't wish to fight with you or cause you hate towards me, but there comes a time when one has to look at the bigger picture as I have said many times. I was told of that telegram. One of our men died trying to rescue Jonathan Carnahan and upon that the attempt failed. Will you ask us to sacrifice again?"

He wouldn't. He knew he couldn't. Ardeth was somewhere below the palace of Imhotep, the one man Imhotep feared for whatever inane reason, and Rick couldn't ask these people to help. He had already asked too much. So his reply to that was simple. "Nope. I'm going alone."

"What?" The exclamation came from both brother and sister. Ahamad narrowed his brow at the American before him. "Alone? You are going to fight Imhotep alone? You truly are mad, O'Connell."

Rick rubbed his rough, stubbled chin. "Maybe. Doesn't change what I gotta do." They were right. It was completely crazy, but if it would get him close to Ardeth, he had to do it.

Mayadeh placed her hands on her hips and looked into the mirror at him with hurt eyes. This would effect her most of all, he knew. There were unspoken feelings there that he could never bring himself to encourage, no matter how much he thought he needed that or wanted to. "And what is it that you have to do? What is worth your death when you can do much good?"

"Evy," he admitted, looking back at her with unconcealed worry in his eyes. "Jonathan. Ardeth." He had never truly accepted them as being lost from his world and now he knew why.

"Ardeth?" Ahamad questioned sharply. That name would cause any man who knew Imhotep well enough to freeze. He blinked in confusion, but there was an unmistakable flicker of hope that Rick had never seen before in those eyes. "Ardeth Bay? The one Imhotep guards at the Med-Jai burial site? You seek a dead man?"

Rick smiled mirthlessly and nodded. "Yep. Evy seems to have gotten her hands on the Book of the Dead…actually, I sent it to her, and she woke him from the grave. He's now a captive in Imhotep's dungeon. He's the other one in the telegram."

"Allah," the other man breathed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You truly did this, saw the enemy of Imhotep awakened? Are you insane and telling me lies?"

O'Connell shook his head, watching Mayadeh sit down and rub her arms. This was big news. Everyone who studied the priest enough to find his weaknesses knew he feared a once mythological Med-Jai named Ardeth Bay. People who wanted to tear a ruthless dictator down made it their business to know such things. He could see resolve forming in the other man's intent. "No lies. But, you know, since he's my friend I'll take care of it myself. I wouldn't want to destroy the whole picture over one small part." Rick smiled.

Mayadeh's brother frowned at that and waved him off. "Don't be smart, O'Connell. It doesn't look good on you." He rubbed at his shoulder and glanced from his sister to Rick again. "We should take an army to rescue Ardeth Bay. This affects us all."

"No," Rick replied easily. That was one thing they did not need to do. "Take an army there and the first thing Imhotep'll do is kill Ardeth. I've got a better idea. I'm gonna turn myself in." He waited for their reactions and wasn't disappointed.

"You will not!" Mayadeh commanded firmly with frightened and almost angry eyes. "That is suicide!"

O'Connell shrugged and felt his pockets for his long lost cigarettes. A lump in the right pocket of the worn white shirt he wore betrayed a happy surprise. "Could be, but it's all we've got. Imhotep wants me and most likely he'll put me in the same place as Ardeth, if I know him. He and I can fight our way out with a little luck, but what I really need is someone to get Evy and Jonathan out. I'm not leaving them there." He accepted a light from Mayadeh waited for her brother to go off on a tirade.

He was pleasantly surprised. The other man did look a bit apprehensive, but nevertheless nodded. "Okay. We will work with you on this. Believe it or not I do trust your instincts when you aren't letting your heart guide you. We will try."

Rick inhaled deeply with anticipation growing in him. Things were actually starting to look…sideways. Well, it was better than down, he conceded. "Try hard, Ahamad. Those are my friends and like it or not, helping them might just help us all. We all defeated Imhotep once and we can do it again."

The Arab smiled slyly at that and grabbed a bottle on the table before him. Uncapping it, he sat up and looked to both Rick and his sister. "We celebrate the life of Imhotep's enemy tonight."

~~~~~~~

The darkness was getting to him. Everything was getting to him, including the non-stop journey through these dreadful tunnels. He had taken so many turns in fleeing from the dead that he had lost track of where he was going. This place was huge, dirty, blacker than blindness and he had the sneaking suspicion that he had slowly worked his way deeper.

The shuffling that followed him always had stopped for the time being, meaning he had gained far enough to rest for a few moments. Out of breath, Ardeth leaned against the cold wall and slid down against it. He was shaking uncontrollably now. Exhaustion was spreading through his weakening body. Soon there would be no running from these beings. Soon he would not be able to.

It felt hopeless. In his youth he had been a little wary of hope, always willing to consider that victory might not be attainable. Back when he had first met Rick, Evy and Jonathan he had been the first to say the beginning of the end had begun with Imhotep's resurrection. But over the years he had come to believe he had grown out of that. Belief in victory had come easier with the defeat of the mummy priest. Never in the seven years that followed would he have thought that one sentence would turn out to be true.

Truly this was the apocalypse and indeed Imhotep had heralded it. Ardeth ran a filthy hand through his dark hair. His arm ached with the action where the priest had cut him. He shivered when he touched it and hissed in a breath. The blood was dry, but the slash tender and easily opened. His side ached as well.

He dropped his hand onto the rough floor below and leaned his head against the wall, taking in the heavy, dirty air as if it were pure and refreshing. The footsteps of the dead could be heard now, if only slightly. They were coming for him, coming and he was too weak to fight.

Cradling his arm to his chest, Ardeth staggered to his feet and instinctively looked around, though no vision greeted him. There was no source of light at all in this terrible place. No sense of direction, no sounds except the unending shuffling and moaning, no way out. No hope. In his tiredness Ardeth walked slowly, intent on fighting until the very last despite these things.

Unfortunately the very last would come before escape. This felt all wrong, but what could he do? He had already fought off three undead, only to have them replaced by five more with greater bloodlust.

He thought of his people and wondered about the last battle. Had they fought bravely? Of course they had. They were Med-Jai, proud and strong. With their last breath they would have struck against Imhotep if they could. All his family, all his friends, gone. Left in a field to be displayed in dishonor. He felt his cheeks warm when silent tears raced down. Gritting his teeth, Ardeth pressed on through the darkness.

He thought of Rick and Jonathan, his two friends. He knew not what fate had befallen them. It didn't matter. Imhotep would find them and eventually destroy them. He turned down a hallway, hoping to elude those in pursuit of him.

He thought of Evelyn and the softness and warmth of her body, her life filling his senses in the Field of the Med-Jai. The world needed him and she had called him back to that task. Now he had failed and Imhotep would continue his dominion over her. She had gifted him with hell and a burden too heavy to bear, but Evy had also gifted him hope, though she did not see it. He was failing her. Failing the world that needed him.

Ardeth, in his tiredness, faltered and fell to the floor, biting back a cry against the pain in his body. A momentary temptation to remain entered his mind. His heart was heavy and the odds sorely against him. But he thought of Evy again, and of his people. Using his uninjured arm, Ardeth dragged himself up through hurt and sorrow to his feet and continued on with grim determination. He may well die down here, forgotten and lost, but even if all the ages to come would think him a failure, he would know he hadn't given up on hope.

He could see no light at the end of the long dark, but that did not matter. This place would not defeat his heart, nor Imhotep or any other horror. He owed that to the honor of his people and to Evelyn's faith that awakened him. Ardeth heard the moaning ring loudly through his ears and knew they were at his heels. He turned back and though he couldn't see them closing in on him, he knew they were there by training and instinct. This was it.

Without sight it was hard, but his training helped him pinpoint where they were likely to be. He kicked out and heard the rattle of bones hit a wall ahead. Another creature came toward him with pawing, hungry hands and growls, and he fought that one off too. A third swung around to the rear and took a hold of his strong shoulders, dragging him back, but he continued to struggle. He would fight to the death.

But they were too numerous for victory. They kept coming and as his body hit the ground hard he knew it would be over here. Panting for air and being clawed by the undead that surrounded him, Ardeth grasped at the dirty floor beneath him and let his mind flash to images of his life. "I'm sorry, Evy," he breathed, feeling slim, brittle fingers wrap around his clothes and extremities. A mummy grasped his injured arm and he groaned, but the sounds of otherworldly shrieking drowned him out.

The creature howled and sputtered as if struck and he could hear it stumble back. Instantly all hands left him and the others withdrew, shuffling to a safe distance. He could hear them hissing amongst themselves a few feet away, one thing, one word that may have been a curse, he could discern in his confusion. Light. He might have wondered with more urgency what that meant, too, but for the final exhaustion that came over him.

Ardeth trembled in the coolness of this underworld and as he did, one voice called to him from the infinite black, speaking in a harsh tone both a command and a prayer. "Die," it hissed malevolently and that was the last Ardeth heard. He gasped out in pain after that, then surrendered to the dark.

~~~~~~~

Disclaimer: No infringement intended. Ahamad, Nashean and Mayadeh belong to me.

A/N: Notes on Imhotep: Yes, he is immortal, fully regenerated and at full powers. No human may cause him pain—but Ardeth. In the chapter Field of the Med-Jai, Ardeth was able to draw blood from Imhotep, which I had assumed from the movies, wouldn't have been possible. Rick hadn't when he chopped our Mummy's arm off, but for some reason he's vulnerable to Ardeth's attacks in my story. ;-) Which will be explained in the next chapter, actually. So yes, Imhotep can howl in pain because Ardeth can cause that pain.

To Reviewers:

J-James – Lol…no Evy/Imhotep, eh? Don't read my next fic. :-O ;-) Anyway, thanks!! As for Ardeth, well, unfortunately he's got a little more time to do in the dark. Poor guy. That would drive me insane, wandering around without sight, hearing things follow. Anyway, thank you for the compliments on the Field of the Med-Jai…definitely my favorite chapter, the one I'm most pleased with so far. :-)

Marxbros – For explanation on Immy, see A/N. :-) As for the feel, yeah, last chapter might have been lacking of atmosphere, unfortunately, now that I think of it. Which is why I tried to get a little more detailed this chapter—after watching Star Wars extras and a Lord of the Rings documentary on the making, being inspired to throw myself more into setting up the feel. I plan to introduce a few different atmospheres as the time goes by, but I'll try and maintain that lost sadness. :-) Thanks for your review…though that might have not been what you meant, it made me think a little bit more on detail. :-D That's always good, always nice to improve.

Marcher – Yeah, I feel sorry for him too. ;-) Poor man only loved a girl! Look what he got! Of course, he did ask for a lot of it, I spose. I find it sometimes hard to make him totally evil though. Anyway, you so sure I won't kill Ardeth?? ;-) Muahahaha. Gollum, eh? Well, it wasn't my intent with that particular character, but you've come close to another character I'm going to bring in. :-) *looks at TV in side commentary—Sean Bean and Viggo Mortensen are very hot* Anyway, thanks a bunch!!

Eve – I'm very pleased you could continue, I know my pairings aren't everyone's cup of tea. :-) Makes me very happy that the story redeems itself. I've a little crush on Ardeth myself, so I see your mom's point. ;-) I hope they continue to fill in his character in the rumored 3rd movie.

Serena – Thank you muchly for your review! :-) It means a bunch to me…let's me know I'm not drowning out here, ya know? :-)

Lula – Thank you thank you thank you, my friend, for the inspiration your review has given. Though I'm far from writing the scene you've made me envision, I'm very thankful for it and can't wait to start it. ;-) Thank you very much for your compliments! I'm glad the story is enjoyed as much as I enjoy writing it! *looks at screen again…Hugo Weaving is too cute*

JonnyCarnahan – While the story focuses on Ardeth and his quest, Jonathan will have his place and will appear as much as Rick and have his own part to play, which I've planned for later. So he won't be left in the background too much. :-) Thanks!!